By Lucio                                              S.B. No. 1027
         76R4558 ESH-F                           
                                A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 1-1                                   AN ACT
 1-2     relating to tech-prep education.
 1-3           BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
 1-4           SECTION 1.  Chapter 61, Education Code, is amended by adding
 1-5     Subchapter T to read as follows:
 1-6                     SUBCHAPTER T.  TECH-PREP EDUCATION
 1-7           Sec. 61.851.  DEFINITIONS.  In this subchapter:
 1-8                 (1)  "Articulation agreement" means a written
 1-9     commitment between the participants in a tech-prep consortium to a
1-10     program designed to provide students with a nonduplicative sequence
1-11     of progressive achievement leading to degrees or certificates in a
1-12     tech-prep education program.
1-13                 (2)  "Division" means the Community and Technical
1-14     Colleges Division of the coordinating board or its successor
1-15     division.
1-16                 (3)  "Junior college" means an institution of higher
1-17     education that awards associate degrees as provided by Chapter 130.
1-18                 (4)  "Tech-prep consortium" means a regional
1-19     collaboration of school districts, institutions of higher
1-20     education, businesses, labor organizations, and other participants
1-21     to work together to effectively implement a regional tech-prep
1-22     program.
1-23                 (5)  "Technical college" means a campus of the Texas
1-24     State Technical College System established under Chapter 135.
 2-1           Sec. 61.852.  TECH-PREP PROGRAM.  (a)  A tech-prep program is
 2-2     a program of study that:
 2-3                 (1)  combines at least two years of secondary education
 2-4     with at least two years of postsecondary education in a
 2-5     nonduplicative, sequential course of study based on the recommended
 2-6     high school program adopted by the State Board of Education under
 2-7     Section 28.025(a);
 2-8                 (2)  integrates academic instruction and vocational and
 2-9     technical instruction;
2-10                 (3)  uses work-based and worksite learning where
2-11     available  and appropriate;
2-12                 (4)  provides technical preparation in a career field
2-13     such as engineering technology, applied science, a mechanical,
2-14     industrial, or practical art or trade, agriculture, health
2-15     occupations, business, or applied economics;
2-16                 (5)  builds student competence in mathematics, science,
2-17     reading, writing, communications, economics, and workplace skills
2-18     through  applied, contextual academics and integrated instruction
2-19     in a coherent sequence of courses;
2-20                 (6)  leads to an associate or baccalaureate degree or a
2-21     postsecondary certificate in a specific career field; and
2-22                 (7)  leads to placement in appropriate employment or to
2-23     further education.
2-24           (b)  Notwithstanding Subsection (a)(1), a tech-prep
2-25     consortium is encouraged to include four years of secondary
2-26     education in a tech-prep program.
2-27           Sec. 61.853.  REGIONAL TECH-PREP CONSORTIA:  GOVERNING BOARD;
 3-1     DIRECTOR; FISCAL AGENT.  (a)  Each regional tech-prep consortium is
 3-2     governed by a governing board composed of private sector and public
 3-3     sector leaders in the ratio agreed to by the participants in the
 3-4     consortium.
 3-5           (b)  The governing board shall determine the policies of the
 3-6     tech-prep consortium.
 3-7           (c)  The governing board shall select a consortium director
 3-8     to manage the consortium's affairs.  The consortium director serves
 3-9     at the will of the governing board.
3-10           (d)  The governing board shall select a junior college,
3-11     technical college, university, regional education service center,
3-12     independent school district, council of governments, or private
3-13     industry council to act as the tech-prep consortium's fiscal agent
3-14     and to provide human resource and business office services for the
3-15     consortium.  The fiscal agent serves at the direction of the
3-16     governing board and under the terms of an agreement between the
3-17     governing board and the fiscal agent.
3-18           Sec. 61.854.  TECH-PREP CONSORTIUM ALLOTMENT.  (a)  In each
3-19     fiscal year, the division, as the agent of the Texas Education
3-20     Agency, shall allot the federal tech-prep implementation money this
3-21     state receives to the regional tech-prep consortia for regional
3-22     administration according to regionally developed plans designed to
3-23     meet regional goals.  The division shall allot the money to
3-24     tech-prep consortia in accordance with a formula adopted by the
3-25     coordinating board that addresses the differing needs of consortia
3-26     due to urban or rural populations, special populations, number of
3-27     tech-prep programs and students, and other factors determined by
 4-1     the coordinating board each year.
 4-2           (b)  An eligible tech-prep consortium that desires assistance
 4-3     under this section must submit an application to the division on a
 4-4     form prescribed by the division for that purpose.  The form must
 4-5     address the formula adopted by the coordinating board under
 4-6     Subsection (a).
 4-7           (c)  If a tech-prep consortium has a completed application on
 4-8     file under Subsection (b), the division shall make a payment in the
 4-9     amount of the consortium's allotment under Subsection (a) to the
4-10     consortium's fiscal agent.
4-11           Sec. 61.855.  GRANTS FOR TECH-PREP EDUCATION.  (a)  From
4-12     amounts made available under Section 61.854, the division, in
4-13     accordance with this subchapter and with a formula adopted by the
4-14     coordinating board, shall award grants to tech-prep consortia for
4-15     tech-prep programs described by Subsection (c).
4-16           (b)  To be eligible for a grant, a tech-prep consortium must
4-17     be composed of:
4-18                 (1)  a local educational agency, intermediate
4-19     educational agency, area vocational and technical education school
4-20     serving secondary school students, or a secondary school funded by
4-21     the Bureau of Indian Affairs;
4-22                 (2)  one of the following institutions of higher
4-23     education:
4-24                       (A)  a nonprofit institution of higher education
4-25     that offers:
4-26                             (i)  a two-year associate degree program or
4-27     a two-year certificate program and that is qualified as a junior
 5-1     college or technical college to award associate degrees under
 5-2     Chapter 130 or 135, including an institution receiving assistance
 5-3     under the Tribally Controlled Community College Assistance Act of
 5-4     1978 (25 U.S.C. Section 1801 et seq.) and its subsequent amendments
 5-5     as a tribally controlled postsecondary vocational or technical
 5-6     institution; or
 5-7                             (ii)  a two-year apprenticeship program
 5-8     that follows secondary instruction, if the nonprofit institution of
 5-9     higher education is not prohibited from receiving assistance under
5-10     Part B, Title IV, of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C.
5-11     Section 1071 et seq.) and its subsequent amendments as provided by
5-12     Section 435(a) of that Act (20 U.S.C. Section 1085(a)) and its
5-13     subsequent amendments;
5-14                       (B)  a proprietary institution of higher
5-15     education that offers a two-year associate degree program and that:
5-16                             (i)  is qualified as an institution of
5-17     higher education under Section 102 of the Higher Education Act of
5-18     1965 (20 U.S.C. Section 1002) and its subsequent amendments; and
5-19                             (ii)  is not subject to a default
5-20     management agreement plan required by the United States Secretary
5-21     of Education; or
5-22                       (C)  an institution of higher education that
5-23     awards a baccalaureate degree; and
5-24                 (3)  employers or labor organizations.
5-25           (c)  A tech-prep program must:
5-26                 (1)  be implemented under an articulation agreement;
5-27                 (2)  consist of two to four years of secondary school
 6-1     preceding graduation and:
 6-2                       (A)  two or more years of higher education; or
 6-3                       (B)  two or more years of apprenticeship
 6-4     following secondary instruction;
 6-5                 (3)  have a common core of required proficiency based
 6-6     on the recommended high school program adopted by the State Board
 6-7     of Education under  Section 28.025(a), with proficiencies in
 6-8     mathematics, science, reading, writing, communications, and
 6-9     technologies designed to lead to an associate's degree or
6-10     postsecondary certificate in a specific career field;
6-11                 (4)  include the development of tech-prep program
6-12     curricula for both secondary and postsecondary participants in the
6-13     consortium that:
6-14                       (A)  meets academic standards developed by the
6-15     state;
6-16                       (B)  links secondary schools and two-year
6-17     postsecondary institutions, and, if practicable, four-year
6-18     institutions of higher education through nonduplicative sequences
6-19     of courses in career fields, including the investigation of
6-20     opportunities for tech-prep students to enroll concurrently in
6-21     secondary and postsecondary coursework;
6-22                       (C)  uses, if appropriate and available,
6-23     work-based or worksite learning in conjunction with business and
6-24     all aspects of an industry; and
6-25                       (D)  uses educational technology and distance
6-26     learning, as appropriate, to involve each consortium participant
6-27     more fully in the  development and operation of programs;
 7-1                 (5)  include in-service training for teachers that:
 7-2                       (A)  is designed to train vocational and
 7-3     technical teachers to effectively implement tech-prep programs;
 7-4                       (B)  provides for joint training for teachers in
 7-5     the tech-prep consortium;
 7-6                       (C)  is designed to ensure that teachers and
 7-7     administrators remain informed regarding current needs,
 7-8     expectations, and methods of business and of all aspects of an
 7-9     industry;
7-10                       (D)  focuses on training postsecondary education
7-11     faculty in the use of contextual and applied curricula and
7-12     instruction; and
7-13                       (E)  provides training in the use and application
7-14     of technology;
7-15                 (6)  include training programs for counselors designed
7-16     to enable counselors to more effectively:
7-17                       (A)  provide information to students regarding
7-18     tech-prep programs;
7-19                       (B)  support student progress in completing
7-20     tech-prep programs;
7-21                       (C)  provide information on related employment
7-22     opportunities;
7-23                       (D)  ensure that tech-prep students are placed in
7-24     appropriate employment; and
7-25                       (E)  remain informed regarding current needs,
7-26     expectations, and methods of business and of all aspects of an
7-27     industry;
 8-1                 (7)  provide equal access to the full range of
 8-2     tech-prep programs for individuals who are members of special
 8-3     populations, including by the development of tech-prep program
 8-4     services appropriate to the needs of special programs; and
 8-5                 (8)  provide for preparatory services that assist
 8-6     participants in tech-prep programs.
 8-7           (d)  A tech-prep consortium that receives a grant under this
 8-8     section must use the money awarded to develop and operate a
 8-9     tech-prep program described in Subsection (c).
8-10           (e)  A tech-prep program may:
8-11                 (1)  provide for the acquisition of tech-prep program
8-12     equipment;
8-13                 (2)  acquire technical assistance from state or local
8-14     entities that have designed, established, and operated tech-prep
8-15     programs that have effectively used educational technology and
8-16     distance learning to deliver curricula and services and to develop
8-17     an articulation agreement; and
8-18                 (3)  establish articulation agreements with
8-19     institutions of higher education, labor organizations, or
8-20     businesses located in or out of the region served by the tech-prep
8-21     consortium, especially with regard to using distance learning and
8-22     educational technology to provide for the delivery of services and
8-23     programs.
8-24           Sec. 61.856.  GRANT APPLICATION.  (a)  Each regional
8-25     tech-prep consortium that desires to obtain a grant under this
8-26     subchapter must submit an application to the division at the time
8-27     and in the manner the division prescribes.
 9-1           (b)  An application under this section must:
 9-2                 (1)  contain a five-year plan for the development and
 9-3     implementation of tech-prep programs;
 9-4                 (2)  show that the application has been approved by the
 9-5     tech-prep consortium's governing board; and
 9-6                 (3)  show that the entity selected as the consortium's
 9-7     fiscal agent has agreed to serve in that capacity.
 9-8           (c)  The division shall approve the application if the
 9-9     application meets the requirements of this section and Section
9-10     61.854(b).
9-11           (d)  The division shall give special consideration to an
9-12     application for a tech-prep program that:
9-13                 (1)  provides for effective employment placement
9-14     activities for students or for the transfer of students to
9-15     baccalaureate degree programs;
9-16                 (2)  is developed in consultation with business,
9-17     industry, institutions of higher education, and labor
9-18     organizations;
9-19                 (3)  effectively addresses the issues of school dropout
9-20     prevention, returning to school after dropping out, and the needs
9-21     of special populations;
9-22                 (4)  provides education or training in areas or skills
9-23     in which there are significant workforce shortages, including the
9-24     information technology industry; and
9-25                 (5)  demonstrates how tech-prep programs may help
9-26     students achieve high academic and employability competencies.
9-27           (e)  In awarding grants under this subchapter, the division
 10-1    shall ensure an equitable distribution of assistance between urban
 10-2    and regional consortium participants.
 10-3          Sec. 61.857.  REPORT; REVIEW OF FIVE-YEAR PLAN.  (a)  Each
 10-4    regional tech-prep consortium that receives a grant under this
 10-5    subchapter shall annually prepare and submit to the division a
 10-6    written report on the effectiveness of the tech-prep programs for
 10-7    which the consortium received assistance.  The report must include
 10-8    a description of the manner in which the consortium awarded any
 10-9    subgrants in the region served by the consortium.
10-10          (b)  After the second year of the five-year plan required
10-11    under Section 61.856(b)(1), the consortium shall review the plan
10-12    and make any changes necessary.
10-13          Sec. 61.858.  DEMONSTRATION PROGRAMS.  (a)  From funds
10-14    appropriated for the purpose, each fiscal year the division may
10-15    award grants to regional tech-prep consortia described by Section
10-16    61.855(b) to enable the consortia to establish and implement
10-17    tech-prep demonstration programs.
10-18          (b)  A tech-prep demonstration program under this section:
10-19                (1)  must involve the location of a secondary school on
10-20    the site of a junior college;
10-21                (2)  must involve a business as a participant in the
10-22    tech-prep consortium;
10-23                (3)  must include the voluntary participation of
10-24    secondary school students in the tech-prep program; and
10-25                (4)  may provide summer internships at a business for
10-26    students or teachers.
10-27          (c)  A regional tech-prep consortium that desires to obtain a
 11-1    grant under this section must submit an application to the division
 11-2    at the time and in the manner the division prescribes.  The
 11-3    application must include the information required by the board.
 11-4          (d)  A tech-prep demonstration program must:
 11-5                (1)  be implemented under an articulation agreement;
 11-6                (2)  consist of two to four years of secondary school
 11-7    preceding graduation and:
 11-8                      (A)  two or more years of higher education; or
 11-9                      (B)  two or more years of apprenticeship
11-10    following secondary instruction;
11-11                (3)  have a common core of required proficiency based
11-12    on the recommended high school program adopted by the State Board
11-13    of Education under Section 28.025(a), with proficiencies in
11-14    mathematics, science, reading, writing, communications, and
11-15    technologies designed to lead to an associate degree or
11-16    postsecondary certificate in a specific career field;
11-17                (4)  include the development of tech-prep program
11-18    curricula for both secondary and postsecondary participants in the
11-19    consortium that:
11-20                      (A)  meets academic standards developed by the
11-21    state;
11-22                      (B)  links secondary schools and two-year
11-23    postsecondary institutions;
11-24                      (C)  uses, if appropriate and available,
11-25    work-based or worksite learning in conjunction with business and
11-26    all aspects of an industry; and
11-27                      (D)  uses educational technology and distance
 12-1    learning, as appropriate, to involve each consortium participant
 12-2    more fully in the development and operation of programs;
 12-3                (5)  include in-service training for teachers that:
 12-4                      (A)  is designed to train vocational and
 12-5    technical teachers to effectively implement tech-prep programs;
 12-6                      (B)  provides for joint training for teachers in
 12-7    the tech-prep consortium;
 12-8                      (C)  is designed to ensure that teachers and
 12-9    administrators remain informed regarding current needs,
12-10    expectations, and methods of business and of all aspects of an
12-11    industry;
12-12                      (D)  focuses on training postsecondary education
12-13    faculty in the use of contextual and applied curricula and
12-14    instruction; and
12-15                      (E)  provides training in the use and application
12-16    of technology;
12-17                (6)  include training programs for counselors designed
12-18    to enable counselors to more effectively:
12-19                      (A)  provide information to students regarding
12-20    tech-prep programs;
12-21                      (B)  support student progress in completing
12-22    tech-prep programs;
12-23                      (C)  provide information on related employment
12-24    opportunities;
12-25                      (D)  ensure that tech-prep students are placed in
12-26    appropriate  employment; and
12-27                      (E)  remain informed regarding current needs,
 13-1    expectations, and methods of business and of all aspects of an
 13-2    industry;
 13-3                (7)  provide equal access to the full range of
 13-4    tech-prep programs for individuals who are members of special
 13-5    populations, including by the development of tech-prep program
 13-6    services appropriate to the needs of special programs; and
 13-7                (8)  provide for preparatory services that assist
 13-8    participants in tech-prep programs.
 13-9          (e)  The division shall give special consideration to an
13-10    application for a tech-prep demonstration program that:
13-11                (1)  provides for effective employment placement
13-12    activities for students;
13-13                (2)  effectively addresses the issues of school dropout
13-14    prevention, returning to school after dropping out, and the needs
13-15    of special populations;
13-16                (3)  provides education or training in areas or skills
13-17    in which there are significant workforce shortages, including the
13-18    information technology industry; and
13-19                (4)  demonstrates how tech-prep programs may help
13-20    students achieve high academic and employability competencies.
13-21          SECTION 2.  This Act takes effect September 1, 1999.
13-22          SECTION 3.  The importance of this legislation and the
13-23    crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an
13-24    emergency and an imperative public necessity that the
13-25    constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several
13-26    days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended.